Learn to use all modes of your multicooker. This won't be written in recipes!
A multicooker is a kitchen assistant that saves many housewives from standing at the stove for many hours. In scientific terms, a multicooker (MC) is a device that has:
hermetically sealed lid with steam valve; a housing with one or more heating elements; non-stick pan; microcontroller; interface for microcontroller control.
Here's what else multicooker owners need to know:
Add another 10-15 minutes to the indicated cooking time. They are needed so that the multicooker literally releases steam. It will open only after the pressure decreases.
Any dish you cook in a slow cooker must have liquid - at least 1 cup of water or broth. This is important for its proper operation! The more liquid you pour into the multicooker bowl, the longer the dish will take to cook. The slow cooker will not explode.
Don't worry, just follow the instructions, don't use the MV for purposes for which it is not intended.
"Heating" function
It starts automatically immediately after the end of the cooking program. Automatic heating is designed to maintain a constant food temperature within 70-75 degrees for 24 hours.
At the same time, the “Keep Warm/Cancel” button indicator lights up, and the display at this time will display a direct countdown of the operating time in this mode. To turn off automatic heating, press the “Keep Warm/Cancel” button, and the button indicator will go out.
Pressure level change function
It allows you to independently select the desired pressure level. It's up to you to choose - cook stewed soup at minimum pressure or quickly prepare regular broth at maximum pressure.
Delayed start function
It allows you to prepare a dish at the right time. You can delay cooking from 10 minutes to 24 hours. This feature is very easy to use.
Simply load the multicooker bowl with the necessary ingredients and select the desired program. Then press the TIMER button, use the “+” and “-” buttons to set the time for which you want to delay the start of cooking.
Confirm your actions by pressing the START button.
Steamer program
The time in this mode can be changed in the range from 5 to 50 minutes in 1 minute increments. When the water boils, the display will show a countdown of the cooking process.
In this mode, you can change the pressure in the multicooker: VENT – valve is open (low pressure), SEAL – valve is closed (high pressure). If you want the multicooker to release steam on its own, just leave it for a while - about 10-20 minutes.
You can release steam manually: just set the valve to the VENT position. When you do this, you will hear a loud hissing sound as steam begins to be released, this is absolutely normal. You can do this with your hand, but if you are scared, use a wooden spatula.
The steam will release in 2 minutes, the valve will lower and the hissing will stop. Use the second method when cooking steamed vegetables or seafood that cannot be overcooked.
Pressure cooker mode
It allows you to save energy. Dishes cook faster in this mode. It is very convenient for preparing foods that take a long time to cook - beans, beets, tough meat and much more. When cooking stew, not only the toughest meat, but even the bones quickly soften.
“Extinguishing” mode
Dishes in this mode can be cooked without oil, in their own juice. Using the same program, you can reheat “yesterday’s” dishes. The mode involves long-term simmering of the dish at a temperature slightly above 100 °C. Keep in mind that cooking in the “Stewing” mode is very slow: from one to twelve hours.
Baking mode
In this mode, you can bake muffins, charlottes, casseroles, pies, biscuits, as well as any dishes that are baked at 180 °C: chicken, meat, cutlets, vegetables, etc. Unfortunately, don’t expect a crispy crust – the processing here is very gentle.
Yogurt mode
The presence of the “Yoghurt” function in the multicooker will make it possible to prepare homemade yogurt without a yogurt maker. In fact, yogurt can be made in almost any slow cooker. If you prepare yogurt in a multicooker using a bowl, be sure to place a silicone stand on the bottom to avoid scratching the bowl, or pour water so that the jars of yogurt are covered by a third.
Soup mode
It is intended for preparing soups and broths. Its main advantage is that the soup in this mode is cooked at a constant temperature for a long period of time. This is difficult to achieve using a stove.
“Cooking” mode
It is suitable for preparing dishes that require a large amount of liquid. In this mode, you can boil potatoes, pasta, dumplings, and prepare first courses. Sometimes the multicooker is equipped with a separate “Pasta” mode for the corresponding flour products.
Pilaf mode
The peculiarity of this function is that the dish is cooked in the multicooker most of the time, and at the end it is additionally fried. Suitable for cooking pilaf, meat and delicious potatoes.
“Buckwheat” mode
It will allow you to prepare a simple side dish. Do you want some messy porridge? Add more water to the bowl. Do you prefer crumbly, dryish porridge? Reduce the amount of liquid. It all depends on the taste and place of use of this porridge.
“Frying” mode
Suitable for quick cooking at high temperatures. If your multicooker is equipped with a Teflon coating, then there is no need to add oil. The frying mode itself should not cause any difficulties.
Place food in the bowl: meat, vegetables or fish, and then start the multicooker. Do not forget that during frying it is necessary to monitor the process. You may miss the moment when the product starts to burn.
Use the multicooker correctly and follow the instructions. Then she will become an indispensable assistant in your kitchen!
Source: lifter.com.ua
Source: https://www.tanfest.com/nauchites-ispol-zovat-vse-rezhimy-vashej-mul-tivarki-takoe-v-retseptah-ne-napishut/
What pressure does the valve hold in the pressure cooker?
For safe operation, pressure cookers are equipped with safety valves on the lids - main and emergency (some models even have 2 spare ones). Valves regulate the release of excess pressure. If this is not done, the unit may explode at the maximum level.
Mechanical models that require more careful handling - when heating on a gas or electric stove, you need to make sure that they do not overheat. Modern ones with safety valves are safer - when the pressure inside the pan increases to the maximum permissible level, the main valve is activated and steam is released. The emergency one is configured to a higher pressure level and is triggered in critical situations when the main one has failed. Electric pressure cookers have automatic temperature control.
Multicooker: how modes work in different models - types and differences of programs
Manufacturers of multicookers are trying to create a device that can perform the functions of several devices at once. The modes in a multicooker are becoming more varied and complex.
An ordinary home multicooker can cook almost any dish: grill, pasta, boil food in the classic way or steam it like a double boiler. Cooking modes differ in complexity and functionality.
Let's figure out how different programs and modes work in a typical multicooker.
Home use of the product
Manual modes
Such programs are a response to user requests. Those who are used to cooking according to their own recipes want the multicooker program to be able to set the heating temperature and cooking time manually.
The first to provide this opportunity was then followed by other manufacturers.
In multicookers of different brands, this cooking option may be called differently, and the basic characteristics will also differ. The minimum temperature that this mode allows you to set is about 30 degrees Celsius. It is convenient for making yoghurts and preparing yeast dough. The upper limit will be different for each manufacturer. The range is 100–200 degrees.
Manual cooking program names: multicook, manual, your mode, multichef and other options. It makes sense to experiment with manual cooking if the owner of the device has a good understanding of the process of preparing a dish and understands what and how to do it. If you have little experience, it is better to start by trusting the standard automatic modes, the results of which will be consistently successful.
Using manual mode without proper experience is fraught with unexpected consequences
Automatic modes
There are several automatic modes that ensure high quality dishes.
"Warming" program. A fairly simple option that allows you to keep a ready-made dish warm while waiting for lunch or dinner. Some housewives use this mode to defrost or melt butter. In most multicooker models, heating turns on automatically after cooking.
The stewing mode at a given temperature in a multicooker is very similar to conventional cooking in an oven at low temperatures. Well suited for cooking porridges, jellied meats, broths, in a word, those dishes that require simmering. The finished product is aromatic and uniform in structure. The timer can be set from half an hour to twelve hours.
The baking or baking option is convenient for those who like to prepare biscuits and sweet pastries. Non-trivial options for using “baking” include using this program for frying vegetables or meat products.
Baking mode in a multicooker
The mode configured for cooking porridge may differ in name and temperature settings. This program is also suitable for pilaf, crumbly porridges, and porridges with milk. Cooking time varies from forty minutes to an hour.
Some models for pilaf have a special mode, in which the food is browned on the bottom and the rice turns out crumbly. In this mode you can bake potatoes or fry dumplings.
The “Krupa” or “Buckwheat” programs are intended for preparing crumbly, but not browned porridges. In this case, the liquid is thoroughly evaporated.
It should be remembered that the multicooker will begin counting the cooking time after it has heated the internal contents of the bowl to operating temperature.
Depending on the volume of the bowl and the power of the device, this will take an additional 10–20 minutes.
Preset program options
Double boiler. This program allows you to cook food using steam. The dishes are specific in taste, but more healthy than those prepared in the traditional way.
To use this mode, you will need an additional plastic container on which to place the food. Water is poured into the bottom of the bowl, then a plastic stand with food is inserted.
The mode works when the lid is closed.
Almost all multicookers have a frying mode. Some models combine frying with a baking program. The program allows you to fry meat, eggs and other foods. Manufacturers usually recommend using the lid-open mode to constantly monitor the process - just like in a frying pan.
The Pasta program allows you to prepare dough dishes such as dumplings, pasta, dumplings. Resourceful housewives note the similarity of this mode with modes like “Porridge” and use them if “Pasta” is not in the multicooker’s arsenal. Using this functionality is not possible with delayed start.
Options for dishes that can be prepared in a slow cooker
Another of the automatic modes – “express” – is used for quickly preparing simple dishes in a multicooker. The device quickly evaporates the liquid from the stored products and intensively fries at the end of the cycle. When using this program, classic navy pasta, fried potatoes and similar dishes are perfectly prepared.
Smoking program - not available in all multicookers, allows you to smoke meat, fish, sausages. To smoke, you need to place a small container with cherry or other wood chips in a special bowl and place the products on the grates. Two smoking options are available: hot and cold.
Hot occurs at a temperature of about 125 degrees, cold - at 30. For cold, only products specially prepared by marinating are used. The process occurs more intensively than when using traditional technologies.
When using this mode, you should take care of ventilation in the room, since either during the process or when opening the multicooker after cooking, the smell of smoking will enter the kitchen.
Pressure cooker - this option allows you to cook dishes by creating excess pressure in the multicooker pan. The disadvantage of such a program is the inability to add ingredients during the cooking process without an emergency release of pressure. This mode is convenient for preparing jellied meat or other dishes that require a long cooking time.
The delayed start function is not a pure cooking mode, but it has a great impact on convenience. The program allows you to postpone cooking for up to a day. However, the function is not available for baking and frying.
Sterilization and pasteurization. These programs can be distinguished as separate, although in some models they are presented under other names.
Pasteurization involves heating to 70 degrees to preserve the freshness of products and get rid of unwanted microflora, which are killed during heat treatment. Sterilization is intended for processing dishes - children's or intended for canning.
The process occurs at a temperature of about 100 degrees. In fact, this mode duplicates the “steamer”, since sterilization occurs under the influence of hot steam.
The “Dessert” mode is not present in all models; it is intended for preparing sweets such as candies and caramel.
Operating principle of the pressure cooker mode
Temperature in the multicooker under different modes and features of each program
Each manufacturer supplies the device with instructions that allow you to understand the basic parameters of use.
The lowest temperatures are used when creating yoghurts and heating dishes, the highest temperatures are used when frying and deep-frying. 35–40 degrees ensures normal preparation of yogurt and preparation of yeast dough.
At temperatures of 50-80 degrees, excellent drinks such as punch, tea, and mulled wine are obtained.
80-100 degrees is the most common range for most dishes. Porridges, soups, jams and other dishes that require simmering are perfectly cooked at these temperatures.
Temperatures over 100 degrees are used when cooking meat, baking, and roasting vegetables. If the device has a pressure cooker function, then various soups can be cooked at high temperatures.
The highest temperature – 170 degrees – is used for cooking meat in batter and french fries.
Differences between modes in different models
Options for cooking programs are provided by manufacturers. Naturally, more expensive and multifunctional models have greater variability and a range of tasks to be solved.
Thus, Mulinex multicookers offer up to one hundred automatic operating programs; the Scarlett brand has about twenty of them. The same option can be called differently.
To clarify, when purchasing, be sure to look at the characteristics of the product, without getting carried away by the attractive names that manufacturers come up with for the simplest programs.
Cooking meat dishes
So, the options “Stew”, “Soup”, “Milk porridge” are almost the same. They involve cooking the dish at a temperature of about 90 degrees Celsius for a long time.
Some multicookers have a “Crust” program, which allows you to fry the prepared dish with a crispy crust. In some ways, this mode is reminiscent of frying, but, according to reviews from consumers who have used both, there is still a difference.
Manufacturers do not advertise the intricacies of a specific program; the user sees only general characteristics: temperature, cooking time, presence of excess pressure. If you do not cook for gourmets, then small differences in the taste of the finished dishes are insignificant.
Conclusion
When choosing a multicooker for your home, you need to imagine what it is for. This is not only a kitchen decoration, but also a real assistant in daily cooking.
More budget models have fewer modes and functions and are made from cheaper materials, but their consumer qualities are often in no way inferior to products from leading brands.
It is worth considering whether you need to overpay for the “grill” or “deep frying” functions if the multicooker is purchased mainly for preparing children's porridge.
Source: https://TechnoSova.ru/dlja-kuhni/multivarka/temperatura/
Review of worthy models
Stainless steel pressure cookers made in Russia are more attractive in cost than imported ones. Therefore, pay attention to domestic products if you want to save money and are ready to be content with standard functions.
Some models of pressure cookers with Russian names (“Varya”, “Comfort”, “Kudesnitsa”) are actually produced in China, but for Russia. If you prefer domestic goods, look for products from the Ural Household Products Plant called “Miracle-50 N” (5 liters) or “Miracle-70 N” (7 liters).
Kitchenware and accessories from the Czech brand Tescoma are trusted by Russian housewives. The Magnum pressure cooker is made of 18/10 stainless steel, complemented by a three-layer bottom, suitable for gas and induction cookers. There is a measuring scale inside for easy cooking. The handles do not get hot and can withstand heavy pans. Volume 7 liters.
Aluminum pans should not be discounted either. Anodized aluminum is safe and durable. An aluminum pressure cooker from the Chelyabinsk manufacturer Chudo-55 with a capacity of 5 liters is ideal for everyday tasks. There is an insert for steaming. The handles are removable.
Ratings of pressure cooker pans are often topped by products from the German manufacturer Bekker BK. The BK-954 model is made of mirror polished stainless steel and features a lid locking system and a durable silicone seal. The encapsulated bottom is compatible with all types of slabs. Total volume – 6 liters. Bakelite handles do not heat up. It is convenient to remove from the stove with one or two hands.
The cast aluminum pan from Norbert Woll GmbH with induction bottom is suitable for dishes of any consistency. Bottom diameter – 28 cm.
Chinese manufacturers are attracted by competitive prices. The Appetite aluminum pressure cooker with a capacity of 9 liters is suitable for jellied meat and large pieces of meat. In a tall saucepan you can boil, stew and steam.
The Chinese company has several models of pressure cookers of different sizes made of stainless chromium-nickel steel with a mirror polish. The rubberized gasket ring ensures reliable sealing. The tempered glass lid is equipped with a pressure regulation valve and a locking system.
